WORD of the Day

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I’ve been sitting at my computer for some time now, trying hard to form the words – any words – to say about the amazing weekend I gratefully spent on the Walk to Emmaus.  Any of you who have gone on this (or a similar) walk will immediately know what I’d love to express.  You’ll also understand the difficulty in putting those thoughts and feelings into tangible words.  To say it was a blessing is a gross understatement, but that’s about all I can do for now.  There is so much to process and to continue to marinate in my heart and mind… For now, I’ll just say two things:

1.  “Thank you” to everyone who had a part in this “Central Mississippi Walk to Emmaus 111”  and in my getting there and being blessed while there ~ Thank you, thank you, thank you!  Thank you for praying and encouraging me as I prepared for this walk.

2.  If God ever opens a door and leads you to go on this walk, do it!  You won’t regret it!  You can find out much more about it here.  [Let me know if you do go on a walk… it will be my privilege to pray for you as so many prayed for me! :-)]

As I type this, I’m having trouble sleeping, so I’m watching FOX news’ live coverage of the celebrating over Bin Laden’s death.  Although I’m thankful that the war on terror is making progress, my heart remains too heavy over the state of our nation and world to jump up and down and pump my fist in victory.

If I think too much about the wars oversees, the natural disasters close to home, the instability of our economy, and the personal tragedies of so many, I can get a bit overwhelmed in spirit.  The daily news makes me acutely aware that life is uncertain. Today is uncertain.  Tomorrow is uncertain.  In fact, I can’t imagine how these heavy and uncertain times can or will be resolved.

It’s a good thing I’m not the one responsible for resolving them!  A men?

On April 29th, Oswald Chambers’ devotion in My Utmost For His Highest addressed this very issue, yet instead of calling it “The heaviness of uncertainty” (as my natural self tends to call it), he calls it “The Graciousness of Uncertainty.”  My dear “QT friend” Oswald Chambers says:

“The nature of spiritual life is that we are certain in our uncertainty, consequently we do not make our nests anywhere.  Common sense says ‘Well, supposing I were in that condition…’  We cannot suppose ourselves in any condition we have never been in.

To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, we do not know what a day may bring forth.  This is generally said with a sigh of sadness, it should be rather an expression of breathless expectation.

Breathless expectation… The graciousness of uncertainty… Certain uncertainty…  That’s what we need!  The days ahead aren’t guaranteed, but God is!  No matter what we are dealing with, if we will remain loyal to God (love and obey Him for today and trust Him for tomorrow), we will experience the breathless expecataion of being certain in each uncertainty, with a God-given graciousness over our lives. Let’s be “frogs” –   Fully Rely On God. 😉

With prayers for you to be certain (in God) in the midst of life’s uncertainty~
Jennifer

“The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.”  Psalm 28:7

Blessed Easter to you! What a happy day for all of us… I can’t help but sing (in my head – ha ha) one of my favorite worship songs today, In Christ Alone. My most favorite parts of this beautiful song are

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again

No power of hell, no scheme of man
Could ever pluck me from His hand
‘Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I stand…

A men! He is Risen! He is Risen, indeed!

Happy, happy Easter to you all~
Jennifer

(If you’re reading this via e-mail, click the link below to see the video.)

http://youtu.be/8welVgKX8Qo

Yesterday, Abigail was randomly quoting “The Night before Christmas”… and all of a sudden, this poem started swirling around in my mind. It was a sweet gift from The Lord to me, and I wanted to pass it along. 🙂   On this silent Saturday, may we rejoice in Jesus, The Truth, Life, and Way!

‘Twas the night before Easter, and all through the land
There was mourning and grieving for Jesus, the man.

Forsaken by God, abandoned by friends,
Jesus was punished for all of our sins.

“Crucify Him!” the angry crowds cheered.
“Save Yourself!” the bitter ones jeered.

His followers’ hopes were dashed in His death
As they watched their Leader take His last breath.

They didn’t remember or couldn’t understand
All Jesus said about God’s ultimate plan.

What they thought in this silence seemed the end.
They’d lost a Master, a Teacher, a Friend.

But Praise be to God – things aren’t as they seem!
A battle was raging behind death’s last scene.

Sin could not win, death could not hold
Messiah, Our Savior, as prophets foretold.

When on the third day, women were a-chatter,
Disciples ran to the tomb to see what was the matter.

The tomb – it was empty, just like they said.
Jesus had risen – He’s no longer dead!

Sin, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting?
It was finished! Sin’s curse destroyed by Jesus, The King!

Now we hear Jesus exclaim from His Word every day,
“Come unto me, I’m the Life, Truth, and Way!”

‘Twas the morning of Easter, and all through the land,
We rejoice in Salvation, through Jesus, for man!

Jennifer Walker
4-22-11